How to: Register, vote, go absent(ee)

Where: Almost anywhere there's a crowd, there will be someone registering voters. By mail is also an option. More traditional spots are the registrars' offices (Charlottesville in the City Hall Annex, Albemarle at the DMV on Pantops).

What to bring: No identification is necessary, but you do need to provide your full legal name, current address, Social Security number, and where you were last registered to vote.

What to bring: Proper identification, such as a driver's license– or sign an Affirmation of Identity statement, unless you registered by mail or at an unofficial table. Then ID with your name and address is mandatory.

Absentee

Deadline: Mailed absentee ballot applications must be received by the Charlottesville registrar by 4:30pm Thursday, October 28, and 5pm that day by the Albemarle registrar. Walk-ins can drop them off until 5pm Saturday, October 30. Ballots must be received no later than 7pm on Election Day.

Where: Applications may be procured from the registrars' offices or online.

What to bring: A good reason for voting absentee, such as being a student, soldier, or business person out of town– or perhaps a prisoner awaiting trial.

No chads will be hanging from Charlottesville's electronic voting machines.PHOTOS BY LINCOLN ROSS BARBOUR